The very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul.

June 28, 2011

June 26, 2011. On a blistering afternoon in Temecula CA, everything, but everything, was hot. In the ninety degree temperatures of this corner of Southern California, smooth jazz superstar Nick Colionne opened up the latest installment of the Thornton Winery 2011 Champagne Jazz Series with a performance that typified the sheer energy this wonderful guitarist injects into every note of his music. It’s an element of his persona that comes right out of his home town of Chicago and he used his appearance to incorporate many of the influences that have touched his career to date.

June 25, 2011

June 24, 2011. Just a stones throw from the I-405 freeway in Seal Beach, Spaghettini Jazz Club & Grill has carved out a niche for itself as the place to be for contemporary jazz in Orange County. It continues to host some of the hottest acts the genre can provide and on making his debut at this lively venue, writer, producer and keyboard player Jonathan Fritzén demonstrated he is right up there with the best of them. Indeed despite his sojourn from the cool climes of Sweden (where he still calls Stockholm home) to the sunny disposition of Southern California, Fritzén, in the company of a tight five piece band, proved to be entirely on fire.

May 15, 2011

May 13, 2011. It had been ten years since Brian Culbertson last appeared in the north west of England but when he arrived at the Cinnamon Club, Altrincham, for a show typified by the huge energy that he brings to everything he does, he blew the doors off with a performance that flashed by in what can accurately be described as a joyous and frenetic blur. Indeed, with Marc Parnell on drums, Otto Williams playing bass, Jim Culbertson on trumpet, additional keys in the capable hands of Mark Whitmore and the outstanding Derek Nash on sax, Culbertson rifled his considerable discography for a succession of outstanding tunes that will live long in the memory.

April 15, 2011

April 10, 2011. It was a case of standing room only at London’s Pizza Express as Peter White played his penultimate gig before jetting off to Turkey for two nights at JC’s Jazz Club and Restaurant in Istanbul. Outside summer had arrived early while in the basement jazz club ‘on-air’ personalities such as Solar Radio’s Bruce Nazarian, Rod Lucas from Best Smooth Jazz and Rich Edwards of the SmoothGroves Radio Show mingled with the likes of Renato Falschi, James Colah and a fervent fan following to witness a show that even by Peter White’s colossal standards was right out of the top drawer. Indeed in the stellar company of Mark Parnell on drums, everyone’s favourite bass-player Frank Felix, sax-man Jaared and the immaculate Greg Karukas on keys, White delivered an outstanding two hour set that, while showing signs of being tweaked for 2011, retained everything that makes him the best in the business.

March 23, 2011

March 12, 2011. Although originally billed as the ‘Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards Official After-Party’, the earlier and ignominious demise of the entire awards event meant that this late evening performance at San Diego’s Anthology by fusion band Tizer took on a very different complexion. The fact they carried it off with style and with class proved to be a tremendous boost to a weekend that through the efforts of a few special people turned out to be a wonderful musical alternative. Tizer is the brainchild of keyboard player Lao Tizer who has a discography that is nothing if not varied. Here, in the company of regular band members Jeff Kollman, Raul Pineda, the quirky Rufus Philpot and Steve Nieves (on percussion, sax and vocals), he delved generously into his back catalog while, in addition, providing some appetizers of what, as yet, remains in the works.

March 19, 2011

March 12, 2011. Born in Nigeria and brought up in Switzerland, composer producer and keyboard player Greg Manning moved to Los Angeles in the nineties. It was here that he found a musical niche as Jonathan Butler’s musical director (with whom he co-wrote the radio hit ‘Back To Love’) and began to forge a recording career in his own right. His latest release is the critically acclaimed ‘The Calling’ and At San Diego’s Anthology, as part of Bruce Nazarian’s Digital Guy Radio Show new music showcase he not only provided superb keyboard backing to the majority of artists performing there but also took the opportunity to share his own music with the knowledgeable crowd.

March 18, 2011

March 12, 2011. Smooth Jazz Therapy has been a huge advocate of sax-man Art Sherrod Jr since the release of his stunning album ‘Seasons’. At Anthology, in San Diego, as part of Bruce Nazarian’s four hour Digital Guy Radio Show new music showcase, Art blew the doors off with a performance that was not only the most soulful of the session but also of the highest quality imaginable.

March 17, 2011

March 12, 2011. Amongst the artists and fans traveling many miles and crossing many time zones to be in San Diego for this special musical weekend, there was one performer who, although local to that sun soaked city, was taking a significant step on what is turning out to be an incredible musical journey. Indeed, since North County resident Brad Rambur first burst onto the contemporary jazz scene with his debut album ‘Can’t Put It Down’, his stock has been continuously rising. His performance at Anthology as part of Bruce Nazarian’s Digital Guy Radio Show new music showcase further enhanced his musical credibility and, in addition, introduced him to a whole new fan base.

March 16, 2011

March 12, 2011. In many genres of music, the term ‘next big thing’ can often be over used. However, those at San Diego’s Anthology to witness the west coast debut of saxophonist Vincent Ingala may in time come to reflect that they were there at the very beginning. In town as part of Bruce Nazarian’s fabulous four hour Digital Guy Radio Show new music showcase, Vincent used the opportunity to provide welcome exposure to his debut CD ‘North End Soul’.

March 15, 2011

March 12, 2011. On a rare visit to the west coast, accomplished saxophonist Jaared wasted little time in showing Californian fans of contemporary jazz just what they have been missing. Jaared was at San Diego’s Anthology where, as part of what proved to be a dazzling showcase of some of the best emerging talent around, he performed a five tune set of the highest order that was skilfully constructed around his sensational album ‘Manhattan Nights’ and delivered in his own unique powerhouse style. Indeed, with superb backing from keyboard player Greg Manning, San Diego’s own Evan Marks, bass-man Jervonny Collier, drummer Donnell Spencer Jr. and sensational percussionist Gary Stanionis, Jaared’s picture perfect playing checked every box imaginable and enthralled a crowd that really knew its music.

March 14, 2011

March 12, 2011. With the doomed Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards descending into an eleventh hour meltdown those who had made the journey in good faith may well have thought that their luck had completely ran out. Then something happened.

Through the ingenuity of a small number of special people, and a generosity of spirit that belied belief, guitarist Peter White traveled to San Diego for a unique ‘behind closed doors’ performance at the city’s Hard Rock Hotel. The beneficiaries were the fans who had already bought tickets to the cancelled Awards event and not only that, thanks to Peter, the genre also scored some much needed points.

March 13, 2011

March 11, 2011. In the aftermath of the cancelled Oasis Contemporary Jazz Awards, for those who kept the musical faith by continuing their intended pilgrimage to San Diego, it was good to finally listen to some music.

That opportunity came in the form of the CJazz Concert For Cancer which, in the atmospheric setting of the flight deck of the USS Midway, fulfilled its primary aim of raising cancer awareness while serving up a fine blend of contemporary jazz that appealed to aficionados and newcomers alike.

February 04, 2011

February 3, 2011. As London finally began to shake free of one of the worst English winters on record, it was totally appropriate that, for the first Sky FM Smooth Jazz promotion of the new year, Soho’s famed Pizza Express Jazz Club should play host to the sunshine sounds of Paul Brown and Marc Antoine.

At first glance this is an unusual pairing and the fact it ever came about owes something to good fortune. Having performed together at ‘Paul Brown’s Guitar Night’ in 2008, two time Grammy winner Brown, who was in the early stages of producing a follow-up to his 2007 smash ‘White Sand’, invited Antoine to play on one of the songs. The initial session sparked a creative flow which developed into a dynamic new partnership and, in turn, the aptly titled ‘Foreign Exchange’. It was with the title track of this fine album that the duo opened the show and the musical empathy that they exquisitely share was immediately on view. Staying with ‘Foreign Exchange’, a relaxed interpretation of ‘Brother Earl’ worked to perfection and when Antoine turned to the title cut of his 2007 release ‘Hi-Lo Split’ the air crackled with luscious Latin tinged melodies.

November 13, 2010

November 11, 2010. With a fierce wind howling through London, Peter White blew into Dean Street’s Pizza Express for a two hour twenty minute musical marathon that defined what great smooth jazz should all be about. Indeed in the stellar company of Tony Mason on drums, the ubiquitous Frank Felix on bass, sax-man Jaared and the outstanding Greg Karukas on keys he plundered his considerable discography for a welter of gems that, for everyone who was there, will live long in the memory.

November 02, 2010

October 29, 2010. It had been a long time coming but despite venue changes and line-up adjustments the inaugural American Smooth Jazz Awards finally got under way at the theatre for the performing arts in Chicago’s DuSable Museum of African American History. Tucked away in Washington Park on the south side of the ‘windy city’ it proved to be an ideal setting for the sell out crowd who were treated to almost four hours of excellent music interspersed with the giving of awards and the honoring of some of the genre’s finest. The show was anchored in part by WLFM 87.7 on-air personality Rick O’Dell who was helped in no small measure by Chicago’s own Nick Colionne whose magnetic personality ensured that, whenever he was around, there was barely a dull moment. Indeed it was Colionne’s solo performance that opened the proceedings and in an evening that included appearances by Marc Antoine, Darren Rahn and Jackiem Joyner there were some truly memorable moments.

October 21, 2010

October 16, 2010. At the Thornton Winery, Temecula, CA, as the curtain came down on another sumptuous series of champagne jazz, it was totally appropriate that the formidable Fourplay were around to play the final show. In only a few short months this famed venue will be opening up for what will be its 22nd season of live jazz while Fourplay (who have been in existence for fully nineteen of those years) are also moving into a new and exciting era. With a brand new album set to be released later in the month and Chuck Loeb taking over from the legendary Larry Carlton, the band is right back to the sort of form that typified earlier releases such as ‘Between The Sheets’ and ‘Elixir’. Indeed this was a performance that acknowledged the best of what has gone before whilst giving the enthusiastic gathering a tantalizing glimpse of what the future holds.

October 19, 2010

October 17, 2010. When guitarist Patrick Yandall selected Humphreys Backstage Lounge in San Diego as the location for the official release party of his brand new CD there was more than a hint of déjà vu in the salt laden air. In fact Yandall first appeared at this iconic venue back in 1988 and since then has returned there often. His style entirely epitomizes the sumptuous smooth jazz spirit of this sensational city and when previously I reviewed his albums ‘Samoa Soul’, ‘Laws Of Groovity’ and ‘A New Day’ I described him as having rhythm and melody pumping through every vein of his body. Now, newly signed to Innervision Records, Yandall is using his brand new ‘The Window’ to provide further evidence of his distinct Southern Californian vibe.

October 18, 2010

October 16, 2010: Ostensibly at the Thornton Winery to open for the formidable Fourplay, guitarist Chris Standring built the entire show around his current CD ‘Blue Bolero’ and in so doing delivered a performance of immense artistry and sublime originality. Indeed, given the essentially orchestral nature of this groundbreaking collection the occasion clearly called for something special and this is exactly what Standring provided. With a backing band that included both a string quartet and the keyboard magic of the constantly superb Rodney Lee, he treated the Thornton faithful to an experience the likes of which they will have been unlikely (in the context of contemporary jazz music) to have witnessed before.